Fire Chief

Employment History

Firefighter

Ellsworth

Chief

Ellsworth firefighters assisted Trenton Saturday night and then got help from them Sunday morning when they responded to a fire inside an apartment at the corner of Park and Oak streets, Ellsworth Fire Chief Richard Tupper said Sunday.

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The apartment fire in Ellsworth was reported around 5:30 a.m., according to Tupper.
All tenants got out of the building safely and, when firefighters arrived minutes later, they looked in through a window and saw flames hitting the ceiling, he said.

Tupper said the fire initially was reported as starting in a chair but firefighters are not sure of the cause.
He said a quick call to 911 and the rapid response of his department, despite the freshly fallen snow, limited damage to the one apartment in the building.

"The outcome could have been a lot worse," Tupper said.

Three tenants in the damaged apartment, which is not habitable, have been put in touch with the Red Cross, according to the Ellsworth fire chief.
One of them was taken to the local hospital in Ellsworth to be treated for smoke inhalation but has since been released, he said.

Tupper said about 10 firefighters from Ellsworth and Lamoine responded to the scene, while more from Trenton stood by in case they were needed.

Ellsworth Fire Chief Richard Tupper said doors, vents and paths also need to be kept clear as a matter of safety.

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"Snow can get blown in quickly," said Tupper, regarding such vents.

Doors and walkways also should be kept clear, and not just to the one door that is normally used.
Keeping all doors clear ensures that firefighters or other first responders can gain access to the building in case of an emergency.

"There's a lot of front doors that are blocked right now," Tupper said.

He said paths should have a "decent" width, rather than just a narrow passageway.

On the subject of vehicles, Tupper said drivers should be sure to get all snow off their vehicles before leaving home.
They also should check their rear lights every time they get out, because snow can build up there and prevent people from seeing brake lights or turn signals.

"Clearing off those lights can help you avoid getting rear-ended," he said.

Tupper also asked for the public's help in keeping fire hydrants clear.
Ellsworth alone has more than 300 hydrants, and though Tupper said firefighters are "working feverishly" to clear them all, any help from the public - such as clearing a hydrant in front of one's home - is appreciated.

Ellsworth Fire Chief Richard Tupper said the flooding was initially due to the recent rainfall.
It will be intensified, however, because Black Bear Hydro is releasing water from the Graham Lake Dam, causing higher water levels downstream.

Tupper said the company has to keep the level of Graham Lake somewhat consistent, and so in rain events such as this one water must be released to maintain that level.

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"It rises quickly when there's a significant amount of rainfall," said Tupper, noting the many brooks and streams that feed into the lake.

Tupper said the decision to close a road is a "collaborative effort" between the fire, police and public works departments.
He said city officials generally know where to expect flooding problems because of past experiences.

He said if citizens see flooding on a roadway and there are no signs to indicate a road closure or detour, however, they should call the non-emergency line for either the fire department (667-8666) so that officials can make a note of it.

"It's a good idea to let us know," Tupper said, adding that flooding can also force public safety personnel to adjust their routes if they need to respond to a call somewhere in the city.

Tupper said in the case of the Shore Road closure, it's fortunate that there are no residences in the immediate vicinity.
He said residents in that area are familiar with the situation and know to adjust their travel plans when such flooding occurs.

Tupper stressed that motorists should heed road closures anytime flooding is taking place, because attempting to ford a section of road that's underwater is dangerous.

"You have no way of telling if the road is actually still there under the water," he wrote on the Fire Department's Facebook page.